Lunch box



Dec. 26, 1939. '.l. H'. DEvlNE r 21,184,336

I Imca Box Filed Jag. 11, 1936 7 Shasta-Sheet l.

J. H. DEVINE Der-` ze, 1939.

` LUNCH BOX Filed Jan. 11, 1936 v '7 sheets-sheet 2 MMW `26, 1939.- J. H. DEVINE Y 2,184,336

LUNCH B0X- Filed Jan. 11, 19.."56` 7 Sheds-Sheet 3 J. H. DEvlNE Dern ze, 1939.

mman adx Filed Jan. 11, 195s 7 Sheets-Sheet4 4 J. H'. DEVINE nunca Box Filed Jan. 11, 193s Dec. 26, 1939.

' 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 z f 5 2' i 23 232 235 5 233 f Enum Dec. 26, 1939.

7 Sheets-Sheet. 6

LUNCH Box Filed Jan. 11, 1936 ,mmm

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J. H. DEvlNE Lumix nox Filed Jan. 11, 1936 'r sheets-sheet 'r `Patented Dec. 26, 1939 PATENT OFFICE Limon nox James H. Devine, Ste. Genevieve, Mo., animar,

by mesne assignments, to Dev-Insular Company, a corporation of Missouri Application January 11, 1936, No. 58,736

My invention relates to containers for comestibles, and more particularly to lunch boxes that -are thermally insulated in such manner as to retain comestibles in either a hot or cold condition. Briefly, the type of device to which my invention pertains `comprises an outer casing, an inner casing thermally insulated from the outer casing, and a plurality of superposed food tanks which are disposed'within and held in spaced relation to the inner casing.

Broadly stated, the chief object of the presen invention is to provide a device of the character described having high thermal eiiiciency so that the loss of heat from the food tanks, as well 'as from the box as a whole, will be reduced to a minimum.

The lunch box of the present invention is in the nature of an improvement over the lunch box disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 751,519, led November 5, 1934, and now matured into Patent No. 2,147,886. In such application it will be noted that the insulated divider seats on the upper open end o! the inner liner and is secured thereto by the closure member for the outer casing. 'This places the insulated divider at a. point over the uppermost `food tank. While this construction of box has proven itself highly efficient and practical under cnditions of use, Inow find that, where the' box is employed to keep food hot, the rate of heat loss from the food tanks and from the inner casing can be more greatly retarded if the insulated divider is disposed at apoint adjacent the lowermost food tank. The reason for this, of course, is that the heated air within the inner casing normallyrisesand tends to collect in the upper portion of the inner casing. From an insulation standpoint, the seam formed between the outer and inner casings and the insulated divider therefor, is probably the weakest point of the box, and wherethis seam is disposed at a point adjacent the uppermost food tank, where the collection of heat is greatest, there will naturally be more oi this heat lost through the seam in this position than there would be if the seam were disposed at a point remote from the point oi the box where the collection of heat is greatest.

More specifically, therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a construction of lunch box wherein the outer and inner casings are normally closed at the top and open at vtheir lower ends. The lower open ends o! the casings are adapted to be closed by a suitable insulated divider, which is secured thereto by the closure member for the outer casing. Means carried by the insulated divider,A and associated with the lowermost food tank, is adapted to support the nested food tanks within the inner liner. In such a construction of box the seam betweenl the insulated divider and the inner and outer casings will be disposed below or adjacent the bottom of the lowermost food tank. Consaq'uently, as the heated air rises within the inner casing it will be coniined therein by the closed upper end of the inner casing and, as the weak- -10 est part of the box,or the seam between the insulated divider and the casings, is disposed atv a point in the box remote from the point where the collection of heat is greatest, there will beless loss of heat through the seam and, accordingly, g5 an improvement in the efciency of the box.

Another feature of the present invention ref sides in the provision of means for supporting the inner casing within the outer casing and in spaced relationship thereto. In one form of the invention the inner casing is disposed within and rigidly held in spaced-relation with respect to the outer casing by a collar of heat insulating material. In another form of the invention, the insulated divider is of two part construction and comprises a closure member for the inner casing and a closure member for the kouter casing. Means carried by the closure member for the' inner casing cooperates with means on the closure member for the outer casing to restrain lateral movement of the open end'of the inner casing with respect to the outer casing. but peri mitting vertical movement thereohwhile vertical yieldable means cooperating between the closed ends of the casings serve to restrain lateral movement of the closed end oi the inner casing with respect to the outer casing and, at the samb time, to yieldably support` the inner casing for vertical movement with respect to the outer casstiu otherreatures of the invention reside in 9 the particular construction of the insulated divider, and the means carried by said divider which cooperate with the lowermost food tank to support the nested tanks within the inner 5 and out of contact with the dividenes well as to restrain lateral movement of the lower tank with respect to the inner'casing. In certain forms of the invention, the food tanks are supported out of contact with the divider and re- 50 strained from lateral movement by a single point of support. In other forms of the invention an annular ring projects upwardly from the divider and cooperates with a downwardly extending boss on the lowermost foodtank. .whereby the 5s of the invention, a plurality of feet cooperate with an upwardly pressed annular' channel formed in the bottom wall of the lowermost food tank to accomplish the foregoing functions, while in a further form of the invention a downwardly extending flange on the lowermost food tank cooperates with upwardly projecting feet on the divider, whereby the tanks are supported and rev strained from lateral movement.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of means which has the double function of restraining lateral movement of the uppermost food tank with respect to the inner casing, and yieldingly urging said tanks together. The reasons, as well as the necessity for yieldingly urging the nested food tanks together, have been fully pointed out in my above mentioned copending application, and also in my copending application, Serial No. 644,266. led

' November'25, 1932, for Lunch box, now matured ibntcli1 Patent No. 2,026,967, to which reference may e ad.

In my application, Serial No. 751,519. the means yieldingly urging the tanks together comprises an inherently resilient strap. A spring pressed knob carried by the strap cooperates with the insulated divider to-restrain lateral movement of the upper tank, and also assists the strap inyieldingly urging the tanl'together. In the present invention the strap has been dispensed with. The yieldable knob is directly carried by the wall closing the upper end Vof the inner casing.' This knob cooperates with a depression formed in' the closure member of the uppermost food tank to yieldingly` urge the tanks together, and to restrain lateral movement of said tanks with re- .yieldingly supports the inner casing within the outer casing, has common means for securing them to the top wall of said inner casing.

A still further feature of the invention resides -in the particular construction of double-walled food tanks and double walled closure members therefor, for use in a' box as above described.

Itis also a feature of the .present invention to dispose a plurality of nested vacuum dishes directly within the outer casing, these vacuum dishes comprising an outer metal shell having a double wall dish secured therein from-which the air has been partially exhausted. The use of such dishes eliminates the necessity for an inner liner.

It is still another feature of the present invention to provide a box of the type above described with an insulated compartment for carrying a supply of drinking water, such a provision being of especial advantage to persons who work in mines and like places.

Another feature of the invention resides in providing means for venting the food tanks to atmosphere, whereby any vacuum which may develop within a hot food tank can be destroyed, and thereby permit of easy removal of the ciosure member of the tank. This is of especial impartance where the food tanks are used in picnic kits and the like. In such cases, the tanks are much larger than the tanks employed in the ordinary lunch box, and it is foundin such size tank that a powerful vacuum is set up within the tank upon cooling of the hot food, which makes it exars-1,1380

sulated from each other.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l 'is a view, partly in vertical section and partly in front elevation, of 'a lunch box ernbodying the principles of the present invention;

Figures 2, 3 and 4 are fragmentary views, partly lin vertical section and partly in front elevation, of the insulated divider, vas well as modified forms of the means supporting the nested food tanks within the inner casing and out of contact with the divider, as well as restraining lateral movement of lsaid tanks with respect to said cas- Figure 5 is a view. partly in section and partly in front elevation, of a modified form of lunch box embodying the principles of the present invention and showing the means yieldingly supporting the inner casing within the outer casing; Figure 6 is a view, partly in vertical section and partly in front elevationof a. lunch box employing vacuum dishes, thereby permitting the elimination of the inner liner;

Figure 7 is al fragmentary vertical sectional viewof a picnic box, showing the means for destroying the vacuum within the food tanks;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in front elevation, of a box havling a. single tank within the inner casing, in

place of the plurality of nested food tanks, this tank being adapted to receive a plurality of individual beverage tanks;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in front elevation, of a lunch box of the character described, having means secured thereto for carrying a supply of drinking water;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a lunch box embodying the principles' of the present invention and showing a single centrally located point of support for supporting the nested food tanks out of contact with the -divider, and restraining vlateral movement of said tanks with respect to said inner casing;

Figure 11 is a view, partly in vertical section and partly in front elevation, of a lunch box adapted to carry both hot and `cold foods; and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a modied form of the insulated divider.

Referring now in detail to Figure 1, I construct a lunch box as shown therein by providing an outer .casing I of generally cylindrical shape, although it may be constructed in any desired form without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 'I'his casing may be formed of any suitable material, although I preferably i use sheet aluminum or tin. The outer surface of the casing may be painted or finished in any suitable or preferredmanner, or, if desired, the outer surface of the casing may be covered with leather or other suitable material so as to pre-` sent an attractive appearance. At its lower end vthe casing is open and the marginal edge thereof is bent inwardly to provide an inwardly extendingannulariianget Ihecasingisalso provided with an inwardly pressed annular bead 58, disposed a relatively short distance above flange 2, and at its upper end the casing is closed by a wall 4, which is seamed thereto as shown at 5. A handle 6, secured to the wall 4 as by the rivets 1, facilitates the carrying of the box.

Within the casing I, I dispose an inner casing 8, preferably formed of tin or aluminum. This casing is spaced from the outer casing and is also open atA its lower end. The marginal edge of the casing isprovided. with an outwardly extending annular ange 9 and, a short distance thereabove, with an outwardly pressed annular bead I0. Like casing I, casing 8 is closed at its upper end by a wall II which is secured to the casing as by the seam I2.

- form of a closed cup,

At its lower end casing 8 is spaced apart from and firmly secured to outer casing I by means of a collar I3, preferably formed of a suitable heat insulating material. The details of this collar are fully set out in my copending application,

Serial No. 751,519, above referred to, and need not, therefore, berepeated here. Suffice it to say that the collar is suitably cemented in the Y space between the casings, and between the flangesu 2 and 9 and the beads 3 and I0, which limit movement of the collar with respect to the casings. The space I4 between the casings is preferably lled with a suitable heat insulating material, such as granulated cork, which, in addition to serving as an insulating medium, also serves to support the upper end of the inner casing andto restrain lateral movement of said casing with respect to the outer casing.

In assembling the casings, beads 3 and I0 are first formed in the outer and inner casings, respectively. Collar I3 is then seated on these beads, after which anges 2 and 9 of the outer and inner casings, respectively, are rolled over the collar and cemented thereto. The granulated cork is then poured into space I4, 'after which top wall 4 is seamed to the outer casing. An insulated divider, designated generally by the reference character I1, is associated with collar I3 and serves to thermally insulate the compartment I8 formed by casing 8, from a compartment I9 formed by a closure member, designated generally at 20. This divider is inthe having a bottom wall 2I, a side wall 22 and an upper wall 23. The side and bottom walls of the cup are of unitary construction and preferably formed of tin or aluminum, while the upper wall 23 is preferably formed of a suitable heat insulating material,

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such, for example, as Bakelite. The space 29 between these walls is preferably filled with a `suitable heat insulating material, such, for example, as granulated cork.

As shown, side wall 22 of the cup adjacent the peripheral edge is bent outwardly and upwardly and then bent inwardly to form a channel 24. The peripheral edge of top wall 23 engages in this channel and is secured therein by any suitable cement. Preferably an annular ring 18 is formed on the bottom .surface of wall 23, ythis ring being' disposed in abutting relation with side wall 22 and seating on bottom wall 2| ofthe divider. Adjacent its peripheral edge, top wall 23 is provided with a recess 25 for the reception of y a gasket 26. When the lunch box is placed in position on the divider, the ridges 21 and. 28 of collar I3 seat on gasket 28 and forma double seal therewith.

Closure member 20 is preferably'formed of tin or aluminum and comprisesa side wall 80 and a bottom wall- 3| secured together as indicated at 32. The height of side ,wall III of the closure member is such thatthe compartment I9, formed by the closure member and the divider, will be sufiiciently large to receive articles of food, such as breadcake, or the like.-

At its upper peripheral edge, side wall 30 is provided with an inwardly rolled bead 34 which is adapted -to provide a seat for an outwardly extending annular flange 38 of a tray 39,. Tray 3'9 is disposed in closure member 20 as shown,

and is adapted'to receive articles of food, or-

articles of service, such as'knives, forks, spoons, and the like. Closure member 20 is secured'to outer casing Iv by fastening devices, indicated devices upon the closure member and casing serves to clamp the divider I1 and tray 39 rmly between lbead 34 and collar I8 and thereby -generally at 36, and the pressure exerted by such assure an air-tight seating engagement between f ridges 21--28'of the collar and gasket 2S of the divider. Vent holes 3i are preferably formed in the side wall of both the closure, member 2e and tray 3e to permit circulation of air through compartment IS, and through the tray 88.

Disposed within casing 8 is a plurality of nested containers or food tanks 40, M and42. These tanks may be constructed of any suitable material, dependinglargely upon the characteristics ofthe substance to be placed in the tanks. Under ordinary conditions, these tanks may be constructed of sheet aluminum. Each of the tanks, adjacent their upper open ends, is necked inwardly, as indicated at 48, and then rolled outwardly to `provide a bead 44. A t' their. lower ends, each of the tanks is reduced in diameter to provide a shoulder .45. A closureV member $6, having an upwardly extending side wall 4l forming a depression B8, is provided for each of thetanks.

The marginal edge of the wall is turned outwardly to form a iiange 49, and this ange is adapted to extend into a slot 50 formed in a gasketfbl to thereby secure thegasket to the closure member. This gasket is preferably formed of rubber or any other suitable resilient heat insulating material, and is adapted to seat upon the curled flange 44 of its associated food tank and provide a steam-tight nt therewith. The tanks are adapted to,` be stacked one upon the othe as shown, with the shoulder 45 of onetank disposed in the depression 48 of the closure member of the tank upon which it is stacked. Gasket 5I, in addition to providing a steam-tight t between the closure 'members and the tanks,also provides an insulating member between the bottom of each tank and the closure member upon which it is stacked, and also spaces the bottom of the tank 40 from` the closure member 46 to provide an air insulating space 48a. Shoulder 45, seating within depression 48, serves to prevent relative lateral sliding movement of said tanks with respect to each other, andv therebyto prevent disarrangement of said tanks within casing 8. The gaskets 5I, as well'as the tanks and the closure members therefor, are of symmetrical construction and yare readily interchangeable with each other. Y

The food tanks are supported within casing 8'by suitable means carried. by the insulated divider I1 andassociated with the Ilowermost food tank.- In the form shown in Figure i, this means comprises a knob 52, .forming a single centrally located point of support. This knob' is preferably formed of a suitable heat insulating material and has threaded engagement in a ren -of the lowermost food tank. Preferably, each of the tanks is formed with this recess 54 to permit ready interchangeability of the tanks. Projectionbf knob A52 above wall 23 of the divider serves to hold the food tanks out of contact with such wall and, as knob 52 engages within the recess 54 of the lower food tank, lateral movement of said tank with respect to casing 8 .is effectively prevented and the tanks are, therefore, also held out of contact with the side wall of such casing. To support the tanks upon knob 52 while they are being packed with food, the divider is provided with an annular ring 64, preferably formed integrally therewith. This ring encircles shoulder 45 of the lowermost food tank, but is preferably spaced therefrom and from the bottom wall of the tank a distance approximately gf inch to 115 inch, when the tank is balanced evenly upon knob 52. Ring 54 merely limits the tilting of the tank about knob 52 when it is being packed with food. When the tanks lare disposed in the position shown in Figure 1,

the ring is normally out of contact with the lowermost tank, so that such tank has merely a single centrally located point of support with respect to the divider. f

The uppermost food tank is held out of contact with the side wall of casing 8 and.v the top wall Il thereof by means of a yieldable support designated generally at 55. This support comprises a shaft 56, one end of which is reduced in diameter as indicated at 51, and the other endl of which is provided with a head 58. The reduced end 51 of the shaft extends through an opening in top wall Il of casing 8 and is headed as shown at 59. Preferably, a washer 50 is disposed between head 59 of the shaft and wall Hl of casing 8. An inverted cup-shaped member 6 I, disposed in abutting contact with, the under surface of wall Il, is provided with a central guide 62, through which reduced portion 51 of shaft 55 also extends. vThis guide, abutting a shoulder 63 formed by thereduced portion 51 ofthe shaft, prevents upward movement of the shaft with respect to wall Il, while the head 59 prevents downward movement of the shaft with respect to the wall, thereby rigidly mounting the shaft upon such wall.

Mounted upon shaft 56 for vertical sliding movement with respect thereto, is a knob 65 preferably formed of a suitable heat insulating material, such as Bakelite. This knob isv provided with a head 66 and is of hollow construction, being provided with a central longitudinal bore 61. Shaft 56 extends into the bore of the knob, and the knob, is guided in its vertical movement with respect to the shaft by an internal guide 68 and also by reason of theouter surface of the knob contacting the inner surface of` the walls of cup member 8|. A compression spring 64 encircles shaft 55 and has one end disposed in abuttingengagement with lthe inner surface of the bottom wall ofcup member 6I,

while the other ,end of the spring abuts the internal guide 68 formed in bore 61 of knob 65.'

This spring normally urges the knob downwardly with respect to shaft 56, such downward movement of the knob being limited by head 58 of the shaft, which is adapted to contact the internal guide 68. The lower open end of bore 61 is closed by a cap 69, preferably formed of Bakelite, which may be secured therein in any suitable or preferred manner, such as by cementing'. l As shown, head 65v of knob 65 is adapted to seat in a depression 10 formed in the closure member of the topmost food` tank. Each of the closure members is provided with this depression, so that they may readily be interchangeable with the tanks. By reason of its engagement in depression 10 of closure member 46, the knob prevents lateral movement of the topmost food tank with respect to casing 8 and, as the tanks cannot move laterally with respect to each other, the yieldable knob support 55 and the knob 52 effectively prevent lateral movement of the tanks, as a unit, with respect to their enclosing casing.'

In addition to the above, the yieldable support 55 serves to yieldingly urge the nested food tanks together. When the tanks are fllled with hot food and placed within casing 8, the tanks will be in an expanded condition due to the hoty food, and the relative parts of the support will assume substantially the `positions shown. In suchposition ofthe knob 65,- the spring 64 is under compression. As the tanks cool, and therefore contract, the knob moves downwardly un- 'der the inuence of spring 64 and assures that when the outer and inner casings are seated on the food tanks through the medium of the support '55. Guide portion 1l assures that collar I3 will be guided to its proper position on gasket 28, and it limits lateral movement of the lower end of the casings and thereby prevents teetering of the casings upon the tanks about support 55 when the fastening devices 36 vare open.

Figure 2 shows a slightly modified manner of supporting the food tanks within the inner casing, as well asa modified form of food tank and closure member therefor. In this form of the invention, the food tanks are of double wall construction and comprise an inner tank` 14, the

upper marginal edge of which is bent outwardly' and downwardly and seamed to the upper marginaledgeof an annular ring at 15. This ring comprises the side wall of an outer tank 16 and the bottom of the tank is closed by means of a bottom wall T1 which is seamed to the lower marginal edge of the ring in the manner indicated at 18. The outwardly extending portion 19 of inner tank 15' serves to rigidly hold the inner tank 14 in spaced relationship with respect to outer tank 16, and the space 88 between said tanks is preferably filled with a suitable insulating material, such as granulated cork. Bottom wall 11 of the outer tank seats upon a plurality of feet 12 which are preferably formed integrally with top wall 23 of divider I1, and the engagement of these feet with the inner portion oi seam AI8 effectively prevents lateral movement of the tank with respect to inner casing 8. and at the saine time the feet serve to support the lower tank out of contact withA wall 23 of the divider.

Closure members 6l for these tanks are-also ofv double wall construction and comprise an upper wall/82and a lower 88.A .Upper wall 82 is provided with the depression 'l0 and, at its member 8 I.

marginal edge, is slightly depressed and provided with an outwardly extending ilange 8l. Bottom wall 88 is'provided with an upwardly extending side wall 88, which wall serves to space the lower wall 88 from the upper wall 82, and the marginal edge of this wall 85 is bent outwardly and upwardly and then inwardly to form a channel 88 for the reception of the flange 84 of the upper wall 82, to thereby rigidly secure the walls 82 and 88 together. In this form of the device, the'gasket 8| has its channel 50 engaging over the seam formed-by channel 88 and flange 84,

and is thereby snugly secured to the closure As the seam 'I8 of the tank, which seats upon the closure member, has its inner surface extending downwardly over the outer surface o f gasket 8|, the tankaare restrained from lateral Amovement with respect to each other and to the enclosing casing 8. Preferably, space 81 between walls 82 and 88 is filled withl a suitable heat insulating material, such as lgranulated cork. 1 f

'Figure 3 shows a modified form of the insulated' divider II,'and a second modified manner of supporting the food tanks upon such divider.

In 'this form of the dtvider, the bottom and side walls 2| and 22, respectively, are substantially 'similar in conguration to the corresponding walls of the divider of Figure 1.l The top wall 28a is, however, preferably formed oflmetal. Adjacent its marginal edge the wall '28a is bent downwardly to form the guide Vwall 1I and such downwardly extending portion is bent outwardly and then backupon itself to form the outwardly extending iiange 89. From such iiange, the wall extends downwardly and for a relatively short distance, and is then bent outwardly to form-the annular channel 90. A-collar I8a, of substantially the. same connguration of collar I8, has its inner edge seating in channel member 88', and-the outeredge of said collar seats in the channel 24 formed in side` wall22 of the divider. This collar is preferably cement-` ed within the channels and is formed of a suitable heat insulating'material to. provide s. heat break between the walls 28aand 22. The space 28 in this form of the divider isalsc preferablyy illled with a suitable heat insulating material.

On its upper surface, wall 28a` of the divider is provided with a plurality ofk upwardly projecting feet 82', which feet are preferably formed of a suitable heat insulating material. .These feet are secured to wall 28a by-means of the rivets 98 and are adapted to engage in an annular channel 80 in the lowermostfood tank, there being one of these channels pressed upwardly in the bottom wall oi each of the tanks. Engage- Vment of the feet in the channel serves to spaceV the lowermost tank-out of contact withtop wall `28a ofthe divider and toprevent lateral movement of the tanks with respect to inner Acasing 8.

The food tanks and closure members are. sub- .e

stantially similar to those shown in Figure 1. In

the present instance, however, the food tanks` do` not have the necked-inlportion I8v of the tanksof Figure 1. ried in achannel 8l formed in the side wall of the closure members, instead of being. carried in themanner shown-in Figure 1.- y 'The modifiedform of device shown in Figur 4 is substantially similar ai that shownin Figure l, except that in the present instance the -insulating knob 82 of Figure 1 been omitted,

Also, the gasket lia is car.

and the lowermost food vtank seats directly upon the annular ring 84' which is formed integrally withtop wall 28 of the divider. In this casethe annular ringtl' engages the bottom wall of the lowermost food tank to support said tank out of contact with the top wall 28 of the divider. while the shoulder I5 of the tank engaging within the ring 64' is restrained thereby from moving laterally with respect to innercasing 8.

, In each of Figures-2, 3 and 4, the uppermost foodtank is preferably restrained from lateral movement with respect to lthe casing, and the nested food tanks are yieldingly urged together v by the yieldable support 55, shown in Figure 1. In the modiiied form of the device shown in Figure 5, the outer and -inner casings are con` structed in substantially the same manner as the corresponding casings of Figure i, with the' exception that the inwardly pressed beads 8 and I0 of the casings of Figurell have been omitted from the. present cas'ingsfand instead of the iianges 2 and 9, the lower marginal1 edges of casings I and 8 are provided with an inwardlyrolledbead |00 and IOI, respectively. The collar I8 is omitted from this form of the device,

' and casings I and 8 are independently removable,

respectively, from around the food tanks. Each of the casings is open at its lower end and is g adapted to be closed by a. two-part divider, designatedgenerally at |02. The lower portion III8v of this divider constitutes a closure member for nular channel |08. Adjacent the bead |00 of casing I, the supporting portion |05 of the closure member is turned downwardly to form a side wall H01, and such side wall is bent back upon itself to form a depending flange |08. From such ilange,`

the wall extends outwardly to form ilange III, and then upwardly to form with side wall |01 a channel 'i 09 for the reception of a gasket IIO. As shown,-iiange III of channel |09 seats on the bead'8l of closure member 20, which forms compartment I8. Bead |00 of casing I seats ongasket I i0-, and the flange I` I 2 of channel |09 preferably extends for a short-distance above the bead |00 to provide a guide for guiding the bead to its seat on the gasket. When the fastening device 88 (see Figure 1) `is-snappedv closed,` the closurel member is efiectively 'clamped between the beads 84 and |00 -of the closure member 20 and casing I, respectively. If desired, tray 89 of Figure 1 may be inserted in closure member 20,

and with its iiange 88 `disposed between nange III and'bead-N.

Closure member IM islikewise provided with a substantially iiat supporting portion Ill which, adjacent the bead I8I of casing 8, is turned outwardly and then upwardly' to form a side wall IIB, which side wall is in turn bent` downwardly. to form a triangularly shaped channel II'|. From s'uch channel the wall extends outwardly for a short-distance and. is then bent upwardlyl to form-a channel II8, with the side wall I|9 of channel II'I, for the-reception of a gasket |28. Bead'- |0I of casing 8- is adapted to seat on this gasket. Preferably, nange 2| of channelv I8 extends for a short distance above bead 19| to guide -the beiulltoitiiiseatontliegaskeft.l

Closure member |04 is supported upon and spaced from closure member |03 vby a plurality of feet |23. Thesefeet are preferably formed of 'a suitable heat insulating material, such as Bakelite, and comprise a hemispherical portion |24 and a unitary disc portion |25. A pin `|28.

formed integrally with each of these feet extends upwardly through an opening in supporting portion ||4 of closure member i04, and into a bore formed in a similar foot |21. Portion |24 of foot |23 seats in channel |00 in closure member |03 and, by reason of such engagement, closure member |04 is prevented from moving laterally with respect to casing Likewise, as the closure member |03 is held against lateral movement, the lower open end of casing 8 will be held spaced from casing and restrained from lateral movement with respect thereto by reason of the bead thereof engaging within the flange |2| of.

l scribed here. As shown. portion |20' of foot |21 extends into channel di 'oi the lowermost food Vtank and thereby supports said tank out of conthe reduced portion 51 of the shaft 55 extends' throughitop wall il of casing il and into a second 'yieldable support 55h mounted upon such top wall of the casing. lThis second support serves to restrain lateral movement of the upper end of casing 8 with respect to casing i, and to yieldingly support the casing 8 within casing It also 'comprises a cup-shaped member Sib having an internal guide B2b. The reduced portion 51 of shaft 56 extends upwardly through' guide member 6|b, and also through a sleeve |30. This sleeve is provided with an outwardly extending annular flange |3| over which the upper end of the shaft 5| is headed, as indicated at i 32. As the shaft is headed over flange |3| of the sleeve. and as the sleeve ahuts the internal guide 625, the shaft is prevented from moving downwardly with respect to wall of the casing. Upward movement of the shaft is prevented in the same manner as set out in connection with the yieldable support 55 of Figure 1. In all other respects. the yieldable support 55h employs the same elements arranged as and operating in the manner of support 55 of Figure 1. namely. the insulating knoh 65h having the internal guide 38h which engagessleeve |30 for `vertical movement with respect thereto. and the compression spring 64b. which normally urges the knob upwardly with respect to the sleeve. Preferably the spring 64b is made slightly stronger than the compression spring 50a of support 55a. Head tb'of knob 85h engages in an upwardly embossed portion |34 in top wall 4 of outer casing l, thereby preventing lateral movement of the upper Portin 0f casing 3 with respect to casing At the same time, it acts as a yieldable support to yieldingly support casing 8 within casing In the modified form of the device shown in Figure 6, the inner casing 8 has been omitted. The outer casing is, however, constructed in the same manner as the outer casing I of the device of Figure 5, andthe open end of the casing is closed by a closure member |03' which is similar in construction and operation to the closure member |03 of Figure 5. Casing directly encloses a pair of food tanks |38 and |31.

Each of these tanks |38 and |31 comprises an outer shell formed of aluminum or other suitable material. The outer shell comprises a side wall |38 to which a'bottom wall |39 is secured as by the seam |40, this seam projecting below the bottom wall |33. Within the shelland spaced therefrom is a vacuum chamber |4|, which may be secured within the shell in any suitable or preferred manner. This chamber is in the form of two parallelly spaced and relatively thin glass walls |42 and |43, from which the air in the space therebetween has been partially exhausted. The

. tanks are stacked one upon the other, as shown,

and the lower tank is spaced from closure member f |03' and restrained frommoving laterally with respect thereto, and with respect to casing i, by means of a. plurality of heat insulating feet 92, these feet being secured to the'closure member |03 by rivets 93, as in the device of Figure 3.

The uppermost tank |36 is in the form of a flask, being provided with a neck |45. This neck extends upwardly and has abutting engagement within a drinking cup |46, carried by the ilask. Cup |46 extends upwardly into a raised portion |41 formed in the top wall of casing l, and such raised portion has the yieldable insulating knob BSsecured thereto. This knob engages in' a depression |48 formed in the bottom wall of the drinking cup, to thereby restrain lateral movement of tank |38 with respect to outer casing i, and to yieldably urge said tanks together.

The modied form of device shown in Figure 'Z is adapted for use as a picnic box, and comprises the outer casing and inner casing 8, both of these casings being constructed in the manner of the casings of Figure 5. At their upper ends, the casings are preferably provided with the yieldable supports a and 55h (not shown) in the manner of the device of Figure 5. At their lower open ends, the casing is provided with the bead |00, while the casing 8 is provided with the bead |0|. A closure member |30 closes the open end of casing and a closure member |5| closes the open end of casing 8.

Each oi' these closure members is of cup-shaped configuration, and is necked in to provide a seat |52 for the reception of a gasket |53. Preferably,

the seat |52 is disposed a suiiicient distance below the upper marginal edge of the closure members to permit portion |55 of the wallsthereof to guide the beads |08 and |0| to their seats on the gaskets |53.

|00. and feet |58 `engage in'an annular channel erably-formed oi metal. Sleeve |92 is provided |0| formed in bottom wall |82 of the lowermost food tank. Feet |51, therefore, `support closure member ISI out of contact with closure member |00 and restrain lateral` movement of closure member ISI toward outer casing I,` while the feet ISB support the nested food tanks out of contact with the closure member |S| and restrain lateral movement ofl said tanks toward the casing 8.

The construction of the food tanks in this form of the device is substantially identical with the construction of the tanks shown in Figure 5. However, the tanks employed in a picnic box are much larger than the tanks employed in the ordinary lunch box, and it has been found that with such size tanks a powerful vacuum is set up within the tanks upon cooling of the hot food.

which makes it exceedingly diiiicult t remove the closure members therefrom. To overcomethis difficulty, each of the closure members has been provided with a vacuum destroying device, designated generally at |64. This vacuum destroying device comprises a generally conical-shaped member of suitable resilient heat insulating material. The member normally has a relatively tight tin an opening |60 of the closure member and is provided at its lower end with a head |61 and at its opposite end with a knob |88, which are connected to member IBS by a pin |89 extending therethrough. When it is desired to remove the closure member from its respective tank, the knob |68 may readily be grasped to pull member |85 out of the opening |98, or to so twist the member |65 that air may be permitted to'flow through opening |68 into the tank, thereby destroying the vacuum within the tank and permitting the closure member to be readily removed therefrom.

The-device of'Figure 8 is adapted for carrying chop suey. ice cream, or beverages, such, for

` example, as beer, which is now being marketed in cans. ,The construction of the device is substantially similar to the construction of the device of Figure l, except that in the instant case the plurality of food tanks have been replaced with a single tank |13 which has the closure member 48 closing its'upper end. `This tank |13 is supported within casing 8, at its lower end, by the insulated knob 52, while at its upper end the tank is supported and restrained from moving laterally by the yieldable support S5 which engages in the depression 10 of closure member 40. Tank |18- is adapted to receivel a plurality of tanks or cans |14. These cans contain a beverage, such as beer, and are relatively fiat on their ends so that they may be stacked one upon the other, as shown. Preferably, crushed ice |18 is packed about the cans to cool the beverage therein. In this form of the device, tray 89 may be utilized to carry a can-opener, while closure member 20 may be employed to carry cheese sandwiches, pretzelsor a similar article of food.

Figure 9 shows the device of Figure 1' provided with acompartment for carrying a supply of drinking water. This compartment is' disposed below closure member 20 and comprises an outer easing |81 secured to closure member 20 as 'indi-4 cated at |98. A second casing. in the form of a ask |89, is'disposed in casing I81'and is provided with a neck |80; which neck extends outwardly' therefrom through an opening in casing |91. Neck |90 is secured within the opening in casing |81 by means of a sleeve |9| of suitable heat insulating material, and by a second sleeve |92, prei'- witha peripheral flange |98, by means of which it is spot welded to the inner surface of the side wall of casing |81, while sleeve |9| is secured to neck |90 as by cementing, or in any other suitable or preferred manner, and is externally threaded to cooperate with internal threads on sleeve |92, as indicated at |94; Inasmuch as sleeve |92 is threaded within sleeve |9| and cemented to neck A.

|90 of the'fiask, the neck of the flask will therefore be held against movement in either directioniwith respect tothe opening in casing |81. Discs |95 and |96, formed of cork or other suitable heat insulating material, serve to support and insulate flask |89 from casing |81, while a cork stopper |91 closes the neck 90 of the flask.l An internally threaded cup |98 which, if desired, may be used as a drinking cup, cooperates with the external threads formed on the sleeves |9| and |92 and serves to conceal the outer end of the sleeve and thereby to present a neatappearance.

Preferably, the side wall |99 of the fiask,'dia

metrically opposite the neck |90, is pressed in- I wardly to form a recess 200 for, the reception of the head 20| of a bolt 202. This bolt'threads into one end of a heat insulating block 203, the opposite end of the bl'ock being carried in a recess 204 formed in'casing |81. Cooperating nuts 20S serve.

to lock bolt 202 against movement with respect to block 203. v

In assembling the device, the sleeve |92 is first spot welded in place, after which the cork disc |98 is inserted in casing I 81. Flask |89 is then seated on disc |96 and withits neck projecting voutwardly through-the opening in casing |91.

Sleeve |9| is then threaded into sleeve |92.and,

at the same time, cementedto neck |90 of thel ask. The'bolt 202 and block 204 are then put in place and the bolt turned outwardly to force the fiask into tight abutting engagement with the sleeve |9I. This bolt and block serve to retain the ask in such position until the cement between the sleeve and the neck of the flask is dry and, in addition, serve to help support the flask within .casing |81. Granulated cork is now poured into the space between the side walls of flask |99 and casing |81 and the cork disc |95 is then put into place, after which the bottom wall'206 of casing |81 is seamed thereto, as indicated at 201.

Figure 10 show s a modified form of the single centrally located point of supportwhich is associated with the insulated divider and the lowermost food tank to support the food tanks out of contact with the top wall o f the divider. as well as to restrain lateral movement of the tanks with respect tothe inner casing. In this form of' the device. the top wall 28 of the divider is provided, substantially centrally thereof, with a single up- -wardly projecting foot 2|0 formed integrally therewith. This foot preferably has its upper end reduced in diameter, as indicated at 2| I, to form a shoulder 2|2. A cup or tank 2|8, preferably i'orrned of a heat insulating material such as Bakelite and provided with an upwardly projecting recessed boss 2|4, is adapted to seat on shoulder 2|2. and with the reduced portion 2|I of the foot engaging inthe recess in boss 2M. This provides a rigid mounting of the cup with respect tothe foot. 4,Cup 2|9 is adapted to receive the lowermost food tank. and this tank, as well as each of the other tanks which are associated therewith in nested relation as shown, for example, lin Figure 1,- is provided with a central upwardly pressed portion to provide a recess 2|5. Boss 2|4- engages in recess 2|S to thereby support the tank upon foot 2|0. It will be apparent,

divider I1 of Figure 1.

therefore, that the foot 2|0 will support the food tank out of contact with divider I1 and, by reason of boss 2H engaging in recess 2I5 of the lowermost food tank, such tank will be restrained from lateral movement toward casing 8. In this form .of the device the uppermost food tank is preferably supported by a yieldable support, such as that shown at 55 in Figure 1. This provides two centrally located points of support for the nested food tanks, one at the top of the nested assembly and one at the bottom thereof. Cup 2I3 is normally out of contact with the upper end of the lowermost food tank as shown, and it performs three separate and distinct functions. It provides means to centrally locate the nested food tanks on one centrally located point of support; it provides a separate and additional air space about the lowermost food tank and thereby cuts down the heat loss of said tank, and it provides an insulating means about the tank which may be grasped by the hand when it is desired to drink a hot liquid from the tank, thereby eliminating any danger of burning the hand, which might occur if the hot tank were grasped directly by the hand.

Figure 11 shows a box provided with a plurality' of insulated compartments, one of which is adapted to receive food tanks lled with hot foods and another o'f which is adapted to receive food tanks lled with cold food. The box comprises an upper container 2I5, which forms the hot food compartment 2I6 and a lower container 2H, which forms the cold food compartment 2I8. Each of these containers is formed in substantially the same manner as the device of Figure 1, in that they each comprise an outer casing i and an inner casing 8 rigidly secured together at their open ends by means of a collar I3. However, in the present case, top wall -2I9 of container 251 is similar in construction to the top wall of the This top wall is provided with the annular ring 64 and Ithe insulating knob 52, and is secured to outer casing I of container 2I'I by means of the annular channel 220. Collar I3 of container 255 seats on a gasket 22I carried by top wall 219, and the containers 2| 5 and 2H are secured together-by fastening devices such as that shown, for example, at 36 in Figure 1. The food tanks containing the hot food are received in compartment 2I6 and are supported therein upon the insulating knob 52 and by the yieldable knob 55, as more particularly set out in connection with. the device of Figure l:

The open end of container 2I1 is closed by the insulated divider i1 of Figure 1, and the compartment 2I8 receives the cold food tanks which seat upon the insulating knob 52 of this divider and are supported at their upper ends by yieldable knob 55. As in thedevice of Figure 1, the divider I1 is secured to container 2li by the closure member 26. This closure member also receives the tray 39 which is interposed between the divider and the bead of the closure member.

I'he aforementioned box is adapted to receive an entire meal. For example, the uppermost of the hot food tanks may be filled with soup, the intermediate tank with coiiee, and the lowermost tank with meat, potatoes, and a vegetable, this lowermost tank preferably being divided in such manner as to maintain the various elements contained therein in separated condition. The uppermost tank in the cold food compartment may be employed for ice cream, the lowermost tank for celery hearts, olives, pickles, radishes and the like, while the tray 39 may be employed annoso place of the annular ring 64, the top wall is 4 provided with aplurality of upwardly projecting feet 226 .to support the lowermost food tank upon the single point of support 52' while the tank is being packed with food. Preferably, wall 23b is provided with a depending recessed boss 221, formed integrally therewith and disposed immediately bellow knob 52'. This boss provides a spacing `and supporting means 4between the walls 23h and 2l.

Also, this form. oi the device shows the manner of providing a yieldable suppo'rt for the lowermost food tank. This support comprises the shaft 230 having its head 23I moulded into top wall 23bl of the divider. This shaft, as shown, is disposed in recess 53 and extends upwardly thereabove, where it is beaded over a flange 232 formed on a sleeve 233, as indicated 'at 234. Sleeve 233 embraces shaft 23Iland seats on the wall 235 of recess 53', and thereby holds the shaft rigid with respect to divider I1. The insulating knob 52 is provided with aI bore 236, and an internal guide 231 formed in the bore of said knob embraces the sleeve to guide the knob for relative sliding movement with respect thereto. A compression spring 238 biased between guide 231 and the wall 235 normally urges the knob upwardly with respect to shaft 230 and sleeve 233. Knob 52' engages in the recess 54 oi' the lowermost food tank in the manner and for the same purpose as the knob 52 of Figure 1. In addition, this knob yieldingly urges the nested food tanks together, for the same purpose as the knob of Figure 1. It may here be pointed out that knob 52' may be employed in conjunction with knob 55 to provide two centrally disposed yieldable points of support for the nested food tanks; or the knob 52' may be employed to support the lowermost food tank and the knob 55 may be replaced with a` knob similar to that shown at 52 in Figure 1, thereby providing a yieldable knob forl the lowermost tank and a rigid knob for the uppermost tank; or thetanks may be supported in the manner shown in Figure 1. In each case, there is at least one yieldable point oi'- support associated with either the uppermost or the lowermost food tank to yleldingly support the nested tanks within casing 8. It will also be apparent that, if desired, a plurality of yieldable knobs 52' may be employed for supporting the lowermost food tank, these knobs being arrangedrupon the divider in the same manner as the feet 92 are arranged thereon, as shown in Figure 3.

As will be understood by those 'skilled in the art, while I have shown several preferred embodiments of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereto, since changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. y

What I claim is:

1. I n combination, an outercasing, an inner casing disposed within said outer casing and thermally insulated therefrom, each of said casasI ` ings beingnormallyl open at one end and vinner casing being adapted-to receive a pluralsaid ity of nested food t'anks, the lowermost tank-of said nested food tanksl having a plurality ofV recesses pressed upwardly in the bottom wall thereof, vclosure means adapted to close the open ends .of said casings, and a plurality of reet carried by said closure means and adapted for engagement with 'the lowermost tank or the nested fcod. tanks t0 Support said tank within said inner casing and out of contact with said closure means, said feet engaging in therecesses `in said lowermost tank with a relatively snugdit and thereby restraining lateral movement of said tank with respect to said inner casing and said closure means.

2. The combination with acasing normally closed at one'endand open .at its opposite end, said casing being adaptedto receive a plurality of nested food tanks, and closure-means for the j open end ,of said casing, of means associated said casing and said tank under compression to thereby yieldingly urge said tanks together.

` 3. vThe combination with, an outer casing. an inner casing disposed within said outer casing and-thermally insulated therefrom, eachof said casings being normally closed at one end and open at its opposite end, and said inner casing being adapted toreceive a plurality of nested food tanks,v and closure means `adapted to close the open ends of said casings, of meansassociated with said clome means and adaptedfor.

Aengagement with the lowermost tank of the nested food tanks to support said tank withinsaid inner casing and out of contact therewith and with said closuremeans. 'and a. single spring pressed knob axially positioned between thev .closed end of said inner casing and the upper- `most tank of the nested iood tanksLsaid knob constituting the sole member ldirectly engaging said uppermost tank for restraining lateral movement thereof with respect to said inner-casing and being operative to yieldably urge said tanks together.

4. The combination with, an outer casing, an

inner casing disposed 4within said outer casing and thermally insulated therefrom, each of said casings being normally closed. at one end and open at its opposite end, .and said inner casing being adaptedpto receive aplurality of nested .food tanks, and closure means adapted to close Vthe open ends of said casings, of means associated with said closure means and adapted for engagement with the lowermost tank of the nested food tanks to support said tank within said inner casingand out oi contact therewith and lwith said Aclosure means. a Aliluzleknoli disposed between the closed end of said inner casing and the uppermost tank of said nested -iood tanks, means connecting said knob tothe closed end lof said inner casingior axial movement with respect thereto, and means normally urging said knob into intimement with said uppermost food tank, to impose V an axialpres'sure-thereon,

a,'is4,sae

said knob constituting 'the sole member in engagement with said uppermost tank to restrain lateral movement thereof with respect yto said inner'casing.

. 5. In combination, an outer casing, an inner casing-disposed within said-outer casing and out of contact therewith, each o! said casings being normally closed at one end and open-at its opposite end, and said inner casing being adapted to receive a plurality of nested food tanks, a sepsaid closure members and cooperating with the other of said closure members to restrain lateral movement of said first-named closure member closure members and to restrain lateral movementV oi'said tank with respect tosaid casings,

means associated with the closed ends 'of said casing yieldingly supporting said inner casing against axial movement within said outer cas-- ing and restraining lateral movement oi' said inner casing with respect to said .outer casing,

and the open end of saidv inner casing with respect to said outer casing, said last namedmea'nsincluding means to support the lowermost tank fof the nested food tanks out of contactwith said and means associated with said inner casing and adapted to engage the uppermost tank o! thel nested food tanks to yieldingly urge said nested tanks together and to restrain lateral movement.

of said nested tanks as a unit with respect tov the inner casing.

6..In combination, an outer casing, an 'inner casing disposed within said outer casing and out of contact therewith, each of said casings being normally closed at one end and open at its opposite end and saidinner casing being adapted to` receive a plurality of. nested food tanks, a separate closure member for the open end oi each of said casings, means associated with one of said closure members and cooperating' with the other of said closure members to restrain lateral movement of said first-named closure member and the `open end oisaid inner casing with respect to said outer casing, said last-named means including means to support the lowermost tank of the nested food tanks out of contact with said closure members and to restrain lateral movement ofl said tank with respect to said casing, means comprising a yieldable Support yieldably supporting said inner casing .against axial movement within said outer casing and restraining lateral movement of said inner casing with respect to said outer casing, and means com- DlfiSing a yieldable support adapted to engage -the'uppermost tank of the nested tanks to yieldably urge said nested tanks together and to rev strain lateral movementof said nested tanks as a unit with respect to the-inner casing, and

-icommon means connecting said yieldable sup- 'ports to said inner casing. '7. In combination with an outer casing. an

inner casing disposed within said outer casing -and thermally insulated therefrom, and closure means Vfor said casings, of a plurality of food tanks and closure members therefor, said tanks members oi' other tanksg-and means carried by the closure members oi said tanks am! providing a steam' tight. t therebetween, said last named vmeans also providing a seat for s superposedgtank and a spacing means for holding said Superpoled tank out o! contact withtheclosure being adapted to be disposed within said innercasing by the closure member therefor and withcertain of said tanks superposedon the 'closuren 1o' `arate closure member for the open end of each of said casings, means associated with one oi' member,- thereby providing 'an airspace between the tank and the closure member to effectively insulate said tanks from each other. l

8. In combination, an outerA casing, an inner casing disposed within said outer casing and thermally insulated therefrom, each of said casings being normally .open at one end and said inner casing being adapted to receive a plurality of nested food tanks, closure means adapted to close the open ends of said casings. a single point of support associated with said closure `means and adapted for engagement with the lo'wermost tank of the nested food tanks to support said tank within said inner casing and out of contact with said closure means, and means carried by and projecting upwardly from said c closure means and disposed between said closure means and said lowermost food tank and limiting teetering of said tank' about said singleA point of support when the tank is being packed with rood.

9. In combination, a casing normallyr open at one end and adapted to receive a tank, closure means :br the open end of said casing, a shaft secured to said closure means and projecting p- 15 JAMES H.` DEVDTE.. 

